Electrically heated steam iron



Feb. 20, 1940. E. .1. WlGGlNS 2,190,904

ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEAM IRON Filed Dec. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fa wart/ fl yyzzzs I LW Patented Feb. 20, 1940.

- PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEAMIRON Edward J. Wiggins, Chicago, Ill., assignor Galter, Chicago, Ill., i

to Jack Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 308,893

3 Claims.

provide a construction that will solve this problem and prevent the exit of any water by condensation of steam or slopping from the iron. An-

other object is to provide a simple yet accurate means for indicating from the exterior of the iron the level of the water contained therein, so as to prevent unexpected scorching from a dry iron. My. invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention. 7

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferredform of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from 25 the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of my steam iron; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view; Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the handle plate removed; Fig. 4 is-a bottom plan view; showing the heating element; .Fig. 5 is a topplan view of the shoe plate; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-.6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 11 of Fig. 1; Fig. Bis a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the lower front portion of the iron; Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of discharge openings, and Fig. 11 is a detail view of the flap valve bafiie member.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a shoe plate I 0 having a smooth outer bottom ironing or pressing surface H and a body member l2 attached to said shoe plate ill by suitable means such as screws l3. The bottom of the body member l2 has a slight depression I4 to which is attached an electrical element I 5.

A corresponding depression 16 is also provided in the inner and upper portion of the shoe plate ill to accommodate the electrical element I5 when the body member i2 is attached to the shoe plate Ill.

The body member I2 is hollow so as to provide a water chamber l'l, At the upper front portion of the interior of the body member I2 is a steam chamber 18 extending from about the middle upper portion of the body member l2 forwardly under the dome portion [9. The rear wall 20 of the steam chamber l8 has an opening 2| to receive steam rising fromthe water chamber l'l.

The outer top 22 of the body member l2 has a recess 23 withan indented flange 24 to receive 5 the handle plate 25. Screws 26 attach the handle plate 25 to the flange 24. A handle 21 is attached to the handle plate v25.

Adjacent the upper ends of rear wall 20 of steam chamber I8 is swingably attached a flap 10 valve or baffle member 28 by extensions 29 in openings 30 in the inner side walls of the flange 24. The ballie member 28 has a closed upper portion 3| and integral therewith a pair of legs 32 spacedby cut-out portion 33. Baffle member 28 is 15" so positioned that it does not normally cover opening 2| in the rear wall of steam chamber I8, thereby permitting steam to freely enter opening 2i and pass from water chamber I! to steam chamber l8. When however the iron is moved forwardly, as it is in use, bafile member 28 receives pressure from the water in the iron and swings forwardly to temporarily or momentarily close opening 2! to prevent the accidental slapping of water from'the water chamber l1 into steam 25 chamber I8. This is one of the features designed by me to block the passageof water so as to prevent any undesired exit of water from the iron on the object being pressed.

The steam chamber 18 is adapted to hold a filter 34 of copper mesh or'the like, which rests on floor 35. The filter 34 also acts to condense, and water therefrom will drop back into water chamber 11 through aperture 36 in floor 35 of the steam chamber I8. 3 35 It will be noted that steam chamber I8 continues under dome portion I9, where the steam passes up into the top opening of a spiral steam receiving pipe 31 which passes spirally downwardly through an opening 38 in the front bottom portion of the body member I 2. The steam strikes a hot spot and water vaporizing guide 39 in the front innersurface of the shoe plate I0 and is directed to rounded depression therein to pass out through a plurality of discharge ope ings 40. a

.In use, it will be noted that water is prevented from entering the steam chamber II! by means of the flap valve baffle member 28. Condensation by means of the filter 34 prevents cooling steam from entering the steam receiving pipe 31. The inner walls of the dome, and the centrifugal passage of the steam in the heated walls of the spiral steam pipe 31 superheat the steam to prevent condensation. As a final safeguard the hot 55 spot guide 39 acts to again superheat the steam to guarantee that no water will pass out the discharge openings 40.

V handle plate so that the level of the water may be determined from the exterior of the iron. In this way there is no need to iron until the'iron is drythe objects ironed being scorched and the iron impaired. The indicator, easily and readily seen, warns the user in advance of trouble. An opening 41 is provided in the top of the body portion [2 within which water maybe. poured for the water chamber ll, This opening is pro-. tected by a removable thumbnut type of screw 48; At therear of the iron, electrical plugs 49 communicating withthe'electrical element I5 in the iron are provided for contact with an electrical source of supply. V I may provide my steam discharge openings 40 with a Venturi nozzle construction as shown in Fig. 10. Itwill be noted that the spaced entrance walls 5| are inclined inwardly toward each other at a 30 degree angle. The spaced exit walls 52 continue from the outer ends of the entrance Walls 5| and are inclined outwardly at a 15 degree anglewhich is exactly half the degree of incline of the entrance walls. The entrance walls extend for one-third of the length and the exit walls for two-thirds of the length of the discharge openings 40. The steam passing through the narrowed opening 53 formed by the walls 5i and 52 at the meeting point has thespeed and volume of its flow increased so as to perform a more eflicient operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

. 1. An electrically heated steam iron comprising a shoe plate having an outer ironing surface and 3 steamdischarge openings, a hollow body member attached to said shoe plate, an electrical element having means for connection with an electrical source of supply, said electrical element positioned between said shoe plate and said body memben'said body member having awater chamber and means for the reception of'wate'r for said water chamber, est-cam chamber formed within said hollow body member above the water chamber, said steam chamber having an opening to receive steam formed in the water chamber, a flap valve member swingably positioned adja" cent said opening in the steam chamber and adapted'to normally permit entry of in said opening, said flap valve member adapted upon forward movement of the iron to receive pressure from water in the iron as it rebounds said valve and to swing to close said opening soas to prevent the passage ofwater therein, a

steam conduit with its uppercnd in the steam chamber and its lower end communicating with said steam dischargcopenings in the shoe plate, and a handle attached to said body member.

2. In an electrically heated steam iron, as body member having a hollowinterior providing space for a water chamber, a steam chamber positioned in said hollow interior'of the body member above the water chamber, said steam chamber having anopeningto receive steam formed in the water chamber, a flap valve member'swingably positioned adjacent said opening in the steam chamher and adapted to normally permit entry of steam insaid opening, said flap valve member adapted upon forward movement of the iron to receive pressure from waterin the iron as it rebounds against said valve and to swing to close said opening so as to prevent the passage of water therein.

3. An electrically heated steam iron comprising a bottom shoe plate having an outer ironing sur positioned above said water chamber and having an opening to receive steam formed in said water chamber, a steam delivery tube with its upper end in the steam chamber, said steam delivery tube having means for imparting a spiral'movement to the steam passing therethrough, whereby the heavy condensate is thrown radially outward into contact with the hot tube walls, the lower end of said steam delivery tube communicating with said steam discharge openings in the shoe plate and a handle attached to said body member.

' I EDWARD J. WIGGINS. 

